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A Dietitian Reflects on the Recent Nutrition Conference

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This is a guest blog post by Lisa Eaton Wright, RD 

I, too, was in San Diego in late September for the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE). I was excited and energized by all things FNCE and couldn’t stop Tweeting about it.  Apparently, I was the top Tweeter at FNCE!  I am a registered dietitian/nutritionist.  And before I married “Mr. Wright,” I was Lisa Eaton.  Now I’m Lisa Eaton Wright – destined for the nutrition field, no?!

I am using this guest blog post opportunity to share my thoughts/opinions on my professional association with ADA and various criticisms I heard while at FNCE. I am not seeking consensus here, just an open mind to my personal perspective.

ADA Membership:  There are over 70,000 members, and over 7000 of them attended FNCE.  I met many creative, hard working, and passionate people.  For me, the value of membership lies with networking opportunities and resources offered through conferences, dietetic practice groups, listservs, etc.  My peers have been immeasurably helpful to me as I’ve navigated my first year of practice.  What I know:  There is inherent value in ADA membership – and I choose to tap in to that.

ADA Name Change:  A name change by the Association has been under consideration for years. Many folks wanted it, many did not.  But the fact remains that there is now a new name:  Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.  What I know:  That decision was not made in a vacuum.  My peers spent many hours looking at options, considering different variations.  I participated in a survey regarding the name change.  I know they used that data in coming to a decision.  Might I suggest you say the letters A-N-D as opposed to saying it as the word “and” if you’re averse to the new acronym. To use my favorite saying, “It is what it is.”

ADA Corporate Sponsorship:  There were some outspoken critics of corporate sponsorship.  I took the time to introduce myself to a couple of them.  I also expressed to them that I appreciate their points of view, even though I have my own that don’t necessarily match theirs.  In my patients’/clients’ nutrition world, those big food corporations exist in their lives on a daily basis.  I am meeting them where they are, helping them make choices so they can make steps toward a more healthy lifestyle.  What I know:  I am okay with BIG food at FNCE.   And I’m okay with the fact that some of you are not.

For the critics:  Question and scrutinize, but there’s no need to be “snarky,” (term borrowed from a fellow nutrition blogger).  As professionals, we need to keep an open dialogue that’s respectful of differing opinions and work toward a solution.  Hemi, you closed a recent post with, “and to its many wonderful members we wish success in their important mission.”  I want to thank you for that. Our mission is important.  Challenging?  Yes.  Worth it?  Absolutely!

I am Eaton Wright.  And I am ADA (soon to be A-N-D)!

Eaton Wright doesn’t have to be complicated!  As a registered dietitian/licensed nutritionist, I know that eating healthy doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach – I motivate clients by meeting them where they are and coach them toward a healthier lifestyle!

 

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  • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

    As a member for ADA, for over 30+ years, I chose to drop my membership almost 3 years ago.  The cost did not equal the benefits. I think it is a personal decision for each RD to make. I think as a new RD you may have a differing opinion in years down the road or maybe not.

    RDs are more “splintered” then they were years ago in the late 70′s, when I became an RD. We had less opportunities then.  I don’t think ADA has been able to unite all the differences. BUT what group can???

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/DrSusan-Rubin/1372112028 DrSusan Rubin

    Would you go to an MD who took $$ from Tobacco companies? Big food is no different than tobacco. They spend huge sums of money to keep business as usual. That “business” destroys our planet and our personal health.That “business” keeps kids getting sicker and fatter all for the sake of profit. That “business” destroys small family farms every day. By supporting big food and a union that is clearly cozy in bed with big food you, Ms Eaton Wright, are part of the problem, not the solution.

    • http://www.ruthsrealfood.com Ruth’s Real Food

      “Would you go to an MD who took $$ from Tobacco companies?”

      Great comment! Wish I’d said it.  :)

    • http://twitter.com/webhealthwriter Michelle Traub, R.D.

      I am an RD who no longer belongs to ADA (AND) for a variety of reasons including the high cost of membership, along with the direct ties with food companies. However, to imply that people shouldn’t go to dietitians because their professional organization takes outside money is very unfair, particularly when the medical industry and MDs especially have been taking huge sums of money and gifts from pharmaceutical companies for decades. Just because big food pumps money into the organization doesn’t mean that all dietitians are out touting their products. Many dietitians are poorly paid and struggle to find new clients. They work very hard to drive home the whole food nutrition message, yet people continue to be swayed by food advertising and often head to the doctors’ office for the latest prescription instead of to the dietitian’s office for nutrition advice.

      • http://www.ruthsrealfood.com Ruth’s Real Food

        The funding of studies by big medical corporations has done enormous damage to the integrity of medical research.

        To say that it’s ok to be in the pocket of food companies because doctors, researchers, the FDA, and med schools are in the pocket of pharmaceutical companies is not convincing. Sorry.

      • http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com Nancy – The Frugal Dietitian

        Agree Michelle – Also most RDs (some are) are NOT selling products/services or empty promises that have zero research behind them like many so called “nutritionists”.   Also Dietitians have been taught to work with clients and try to change behaviors in small steps. I have yet to hear an RD say “Please drink more sugary carbonated beverages for health” because they give us money. Hmmm…

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XZXQTE44IR2USQKXIMVURQQUMQ Caleb

      Wow, quite an assertion you have stated, I couldn’t disagree with you more “DrSusan”. All corporations spend huge amounts of money to preserve their businesses. Are there issues with “big food” and could they offer better choices, yes. And guess what, as a result of dietitians involvement they are. Just as an example, because of a dietitian associated with McDonald’s they have taken the initiative to offer better choices such as the new kids Happy Meal that offers apples instead of fries, and if they choose fries it’s a 100 calorie portion. Coca Cola has more calorie free beverages now than ever before. We can turn our backs on these companies and continue to watch them make poor consumer food option choices, or we can choose to partner with them and become a part of the solution. These companies aren’t going anywhere, and neither are the public’s consumption of their products. I understand the disconnect with having a company like Coca Cola as an ADA partner. But you have to look beyond the surface and assumptions to understand the benefit of ADA’s involvement with these companies. Dietitians do not go out and recommend big macs and super size soft drinks just because of an affiliation. Please stop spreading these “conspiracy” ideas that have no merit or evidence. Thank you.  

    • Supermom

      Terrific point!  Isn’t there a segment on Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution where he’s at  a conference workshop that’s “sponsored” by the dairy industry and he tries to ask the question: “what is the benefit of having chocolate milk in schools?”  (For me, chocolate milk is candy in a carton.)

      It’s so strange, America and her children have never been fatter or sicker and we can’t seem to figure out why.  Meanwhile, we have industry associations, etc. telling us everything is fine with our food supply – it’s all in moderation…

      Thank you Dr. Susan Rubin for having the courage to ask the question: Would you go to an MD who took $$ from Tobacco companies?

      Best health always!  

  • Steve

    I’m tiring of the “we have to respect all points of view and keep an open mind to every situation that comes our way.”  It’s a good rule of thumb, but in regards to big food sponsoring this event, it’s a rule that’s made to be broken.

    There are times in life to say, “No!”  We’ve got to take a hard stand against big food if we want to see a trickle down effect to the vast majority of people that haven’t an inkling as to why they’re eating what they’re eating.  It’s the responsibility of those that know to take this stand.

    Don’t be afraid to stand up for your beliefs.  If you’re a dietician, by definition it means you’ve got to be against what big food does.

  • http://twitter.com/GardenCuizine Diana Wind

    I’ve been in the natural foods industry for many years (owned a fabulous store/restaurant) and was dishing out health food, organic produce and whole grains even before organic produce was sold in stores and anyone knew or heard of Fresh Fields – now Whole Foods. How do you think I feel as a soon to be RD?

    I have strong feelings and feel “uncomfortable” with ADA “partnering” with Big names like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mars and Hershey. It may be helpful for ADA to offset their sponsors with not so healthy corporate images of soda and candy, with more natural and whole foods based sponsors. Natural food and product sponsors would be a better fit for an organization of nutrition and dietetics professionals.

    But even the smaller, more whole food oriented companies like the ones you see at Natural Products Expo have been selling out to big corporations since the 80’s. With all the rapid acquisitions and mergers, it’s hard to tell who owns who anymore. So, I agree, we should strive and try not to be judgmental or “snarky” about corporate sponsors.

  • Nutrition Nanny

    Dear Ms. Eaton Wright,

    With all due respect, the problem is that the majority of Americans are NOT eating right. And they aren’t eating right because “we” are not doing our job, which according to the ADA’s mission, is to be the public’s “source for trustworthy, science-based food and nutrition information.”  On what platform are “we” doing this?  

    In the 15 years since I’ve been a dietitian, childhood obesity has soared in this country to the point where the CDC has had to make a new classification called “extreme childhood obesity”.  It is estimated that between 7-12% of children today are extremely obese, which will likely cut their lifespan by up to 20 years.  What landmark initiatives has our organization launched in response to this crisis?  We now know that many of the hyper-palatable “foods” and snacks that our toddlers are weaned on to are addictive, yet instead of getting out there with products, programs and services, we continue to empower food marketers to assume the role as food educators while we stand on the sidelines.
     
    I hope that along with this new name change we can chart a new direction as an organization.  But it’s up to us, the professionals within, to demand this change.  Placating and appeasing Big Food for money devalues our mission and undermines each and every one of us as nutrition educators, advocates and agents of change.

    Deirdre Pizzoferrato
    Beanstalk Express

  • Roadwarriorrd@yahoo.com

    Thanks for your update on FNCE. I have been an RD for 25 years and have seen a lot of changes. Went thru ADA wanting to retest all RDS before the new portfolio process went into action. I have always questioned the unhealthy foods and products at FNCE. I attended most annual conferences until I retired and still stay active in my local organization.
    The portfolio process has decreased the attendance at meetings as when topic does not fit in portfolio members do not come. We used to have 20-30 at meetings and now 10 members and the rest are students.
    I am very respectful of what ADA has done and I am supportive of name change.

  • Mike

    I am not part of the ADA or an RD, just a personal chef, but just look at it…having Coke, Pepsi, Mars or Nestles as your corporate partner, makes perfect sense when you are another snack company, HFCS manufacturer or similiar business.

    But when your “business” is healthy diet, nutrition and general health, having these groups as financial partners simply looks bad, it invites these conversations. Do ADA members and RD’s reccomend junk food because their group takes money from the manufacturers, no, of course not. That being said, it still looks and smells bad and it doesn’t have to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/kenleebow Ken Leebow

    Mars is one of the corporate sponsors?

    Let’s sit back, relax and see what MARS has to say about its food. A picture is worth 1,000 words … http://bit.ly/nQNUYU

  • http://www.ncescatalog.com Chris @ NCES

    We were at FNCE as well. It was a great conference! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the hot topics regarding ADA and FNCE!

  • Jim Cooper

    The conference may have been very stimulating, but I am not clear on what it is you brought home from it that was important to you (or us).

  • ANH-USA

    What’s most difficult to swallow for folks that pay attention to the ADA/AND, is how the FNCE is used to give credibility for controversial and even openly pro-junkfood created campaigns.  Remember when the now defunct junk food ad campaign “Smart Choices” was launched at FNCE a few years ago?  Or, when Alli the controversial weight loss drug Alli was introduced at the FNCE.  An appearance of a conflict of interest IS a conflict of interest. While ADA/AND and a few dietitians can somehow rationalize their relationship with junkfood and pharma, all other reasonable observes simply cannot.  Don’t be surprised at the likely public backlash. BTW cause marketing, is way more about the marketing than the cause. 

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